Why?

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver:

Many of you may have wondered why we have adopted or, perhaps, why we have adopted again and again and...

Our reason is articulated perfectly in the video below. This is our story!


Francis Chan For Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Yet Another April Reason to Celebrate

Mrs. Beaver:

Saturday was an important day for two reasons. First, it was Oksana's birthday. (See most recent post). Second, that day was also the 7th anniversary of the adoption of biological sisters, Tatiana, Natasha and Amy. As I've commented here before, anniversaries are very special to adoptive families. They give us the chance to look back and appreciate all God's done for us.

What an unspeakably precious gift our Heavenly Father has given us in these three girl! Children truly are a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127)!

These three girls add the color to our world. Here are some favorite photos of them:

Natasha (left) (5), Amy (3) and Tatiana (7) dressed to go to church for the first time, four days after arriving from Russia - 2005

The girls on their first trip to one of our favorite vacation spots, the North Shore of Lake Superior.
They'd been part of the family for about four months - 2005

Near their first anniversary, the trio were making "cakes" for the celebration - 2006

A happy swimmer - 2006

Baking buddies sharing the same stool while "helping" an older sister bake - 2007

Our family was blessed with the opportunity to return to England where the first five of us had lived for a couple of years -- 2008

Feeding swans on England's Thames River - 2008

Tatiana at "Odds Farm Park" in rural England - 2008

Yet another bug hunt - 2008

A tired 8-year-old after a long walk through the Cincinnati Zoo - 2010

On vacation in Cincinnati in 2010

Tatiana's first roommate was Lissie. The two share a special bond.

Amy has been Oksana's closest friend since we adopted Oksana in late 2010. Amy has truly been a life saver.
Despite Oksana's speech delay, Amy has learned Oksana's language -- a mixture of Russian and English.
The two of them play together beautifully (well, okay... most of the time).

Oksana's best pal!

Cuddling a pup we "met" at a rest stop - 2011

If you're aware that we've just started the process of adopting a sibling group of four, you may wonder WHY we would be willing to increase our tribe from 12 to 16 children. A portion of the answer is captured in the pictures above. When we look back of over the past seven years we see many truths about God. Our God is a living God. Our God is good. Our God answers prayers. He has proven Himself perfectly faithful through the adoption of and our raising of "The Three Little Girls."

We know we can depend upon that faithfulness in the adopting and parenting of yet another four kiddos. In fact, we eagerly look forward to seeing the Lord move mountains on behalf of the four orphans awaiting a family in an orphanage in Russia.

Mrs. Beaver:

Quick Update on Lissie

Lissie is pictured here nearly a decade ago at age 10 with her newly adopted Russian sisters, Cassandra (l) and Jaynie. Fast forward to current day and you'll find her on a return flight from St. Petersburg, Russia. As far as we know her first flight is in the air! She's spent the last 10 days in St. Petersburg, Russia, working with orphans and street children with an organization called Orphan Outreach.

Her flight from St. Petersburg to Frankfort left Russia at 6 am Russia time this morning (9 pm central). The driver picked the group up at 3 a.m.!!! From Frankfort she'll fly to Chicago. We hope to get to hear her voice for the first time since she left  soon after her arrival in the Windy City (about mid morning).

She then flies from Chicago to Minneapolis and then on to our home town. Lord willing, she'll reach our airport around 4 PM. What a day!

Lissie has dreamed of working in Russian orphanages for about five years and has studied Russian extra hard as part of that dream. She left  St. Petersburg so grateful to God for the experience! We're eager to hear her stories when she returns and isn't too tired to tell them!:)

We'd be so grateful for your prayers for her safe arrival, that she would bounce back quickly, that she would avoid illness and that she would get a quick jump on her college work. Thanks, friends!

Reporting from the Home Front....

We video chatted briefly with our parents (Oh the joys of technology!) about 10 p.m. their time. They have been with our new siblings, and said, "On a scale of 1-10 [of how wonderful the day has been], today has been a 15." The joy of being with the children they have prayed for so long shone from their faces.

We do ask for prayer for our official court date tomorrow; for our parents' wisdom and stamina, and that they would represent Christ; and also for the judge's wisdom and favor upon our family.

Praising God for His grace and faithfulness...